Redding Police Charge Sandy Hook Man With Fraud

REDDING — Redding police have charged a Sandy Hook man with six criminal offenses, including two counts of credit card fraud, in connection with the man’s alleged theft and extensive illegal use of a Redding man’s credit card.

On Friday, June 11, Redding and Newtown police served two warrants at the home of Ronald Risi, 53, of Chestnut Hill Road, said Redding Police Chief Doug Fuchs.

While there, police searched for stolen property and evidence connected to fraudulent credit card transactions, according to Chief Fuchs. Police did not disclose what they found at the Risi residence.

Redding police charged Risi with two counts of credit card fraud, two counts of forgery, one count of second-degree larceny, and one count of identity theft, Chief Fuchs said. Second-degree larceny involves the theft of more than $5,000.

Police allege that Risi allegedly illegally used an unidentified Redding man’s identity and his credit card to charge approximately $5,500 to that man’s credit account.

Risi’s arrest followed a monthlong investigation, Chief Fuchs said.

In early May, a Redding resident told police that fraudulent charges were being made to his stolen credit card, after which police investigated. Police found that 42 fraudulent transactions had been made with the credit card in 17 different towns, according to the police chief.

In their investigation, Redding police obtained surveillance videos from various businesses where the transactions were made and then identified a suspect based on those images, the chief said.

Police released Risi on $2,500 bail for a June 22 appearance in Danbury Superior Court to answer the six criminal counts.